Top 10 Best Test Batsman in the World - 2025

Cricket is one of the most followed sports in the world, which is played in three different formats: Test, One Day Internationals (ODIs), and T20 Internationals (T20Is). ODI and T20I are played in limited overs with the white ball, while Test is played with the red ball, and the match runs for five days with no limit on the overs. Test is the oldest format of the game, and it is also said to be the original format. There are almost every cricketer in the world who dreams of playing in whites for their respective countries. However, only a few of them get a chance because the format requires extraordinary talent and skills with a great level of self-confidence and commitment.

It’s also hard for a batter to play in the Test format as the bowlers have less pressure of leaking runs in this format, which helps them to bowl with freedom. However, there have been many batters in the format who have etched their name in the history of the game. Best Test batsman like Sir Don Bradman, Sir Viv Richards, Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Alastair Cook, and many others have graced the format with their magnificent performances. Batters have a lot of challenges to face in the Test format, from adapting to different conditions to handling the pressure of the fans’ expectations. It has also been tough for a batter to stand out and produce some great performances.

Ranking Factors

The ranking has been done on the following factors, so that all the best Test batsman are ranked fairly.

Runs: To rank the best Test batsmen, it’s important to see how many runs a batter has scored. Batters with the most Test runs will rank higher in the list. Scoring runs in the Test format is always a tough job, whether the batter is playing in home conditions or in overseas conditions. Playing against quality pacers and spinners, hitting boundaries and scoring runs against them makes a batter great.
Average: Apart from scoring runs, it’s also important for a batter to have an impressive batting average, which shows how consistently a batter has scored runs. It’s definitely one of the most important factors for a batter to be ranked as the best Test batsman in the world.

List of Top 10 Best Test Batsman

Who is the Best Test Batsman in the World?

The best batsman in Test cricket among the active players have shown terrific skills and talent over the years. It’s their years of hard work and training which has helped them to become one of the greatest players to grace the longest format of the game. But it’s not just about talent and skills; these players have also shown immense consistency to remain at the top of the list for years.

Whether it’s about saving the team after a horrible collapse or building a big partnership with other batters, these players have done it all and are still doing it to achieve multiple individual milestones, and also helping their respective teams to be dominant.

10. Yashasvi Jaiswal (India)

The young opening batter of the Indian team, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has played some magnificent knocks in Test cricket in recent years. His natural aggressive intent has helped him score big against some mighty opponents at a very young age. In a short career of 19 Test matches, Jaiswal has scored 1798 runs so far at an impressive average of 52.88, which includes 10 half-centuries and four centuries. He has also smashed two double centuries. He is currently in the fourth spot in the ICC Test rankings with 847 ratings.

9. Temba Bavuma (South Africa)

South African cricket team captain in the Test and the ODI format, Temba Bavuma, is one of the most underrated batters and the best Test batsman in the world right now. Bavum has not only displayed some great individual performances, but he has also taken the Proteas to new heights with his brilliant leadership skills. Bavuma has remained consistent with his bat in the Test format. He has played 63 matches in the longest format as of now and has scored 3606 runs at an average of 37.95 with 24 half-centuries and four centuries. He is currently the sixth-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 769 ratings.

8. Rishabh Pant (India)

India’s star wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant has been the most consistent and best Test batsman for the Men in Blue in the past few years. No one can forget his Gabba heroics against Australia, which created history. Pant’s unique style of play makes him one of the most entertaining yet effective players in Test cricket. He has played 43 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 2948 runs at an average of 42.11. The left-handed batter has 13 half-centuries and six centuries to his name. Pant is in ninth place in the ICC Test rankings along with Usman Khawaja and Saud Shakeel, as they all have 739 ratings.

7. Harry Brook (England)

England’s young middle-order batter, Harry Brook, has achieved multiple milestones in Test cricket in just a short period. The star right-handed batter has already smashed eight centuries in just 24 matches. He has scored 2281 runs so far at an average of 58.48. Brook is just 26 years of age and has a lot of cricket still left to play, which means he will achieve many more milestones in the future. He is currently the number two-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 876 points.

6. Usman Khawaja (Australia)

Australia’s star opener in Test cricket, Usman Khawaja, has remained consistent in the longest format of the game for a very long time. His consistency is the reason why he is still one of Australia’s most responsible opening batters. He has seen many players leaving the squad who have played with him as his opening partner, but he has kept one end safe with his magnificent performances. Khawaja has played 80 matches so far in Test cricket and has scored 5930 runs at an average of 45.61, including 27 half-centuries and 16 centuries. He is currently the number nine-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 739 points.

5. Travis Head (Australia)

Another Australian batter, Travis Head, has proved himself in all formats of the game. Head has always performed well when it was required the most. No one can forget his magnificent century against Australia in the WTC 2023 finals. The explosive left-handed batter has always shown great intent in the longest format as well, which has helped him score runs against the mighty opponents. Head has played 56 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 3719 runs at an average of 42.74, including 18 half-centuries and nine centuries. He is currently the eighth-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 748 points.

4. Marnus Labuschagne

Ever since Marnus Labuschagne came as a concussion substitute of Steve Smith during the 2019-20 Ashes series, he hasn’t looked back and scored in almost every series he has taken part in. The right-handed batter is known for his unique style of play, which has helped him score runs against some of the top teams in the world. Labuschagne has played 57 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 4396 runs at an average of 46.76, which includes 23 half-centuries and 11 centuries. However, his recent dip in form has taken him out of the top 10 Test batters list of the ICC rankings.

3. Kane Williamson (New Zealand)

Former New Zealand captain Kane Williamson is one of the greatest Test batters in the current generation. From leading the team to achieving multiple individual milestones, Williamson has shown a great level of hard work over the years. The right-handed batter was also a part of the iconic ‘Fab 4’ along with Virat Kohli, Steve Smith, and Joe Root. The right-handed batter has played 105 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 9276 runs at an impressive average of 54.88, featuring 37 half-centuries and 33 centuries. Most of the time, he has remained in the top 10 rankings of the ICC Test batters, which shows how consistent he is. He is still the third-ranked batter in the current rankings.

2. Steve Smith (Australia)

Former Australian skipper Steve Smith is undoubtedly the best Test batsman of all time to ever grace the game. The right-handed batter has given tough competition to batters like Kohli, Root, Williamson, and others over the years. Smith was banned for one year from international cricket, but his magnificent performances in Test cricket helped him to remain in the top 5 batters list. Smith has played 116 Test matches in his career so far and scored 10271 runs at an outstanding average of 56.74. He has also smashed 41 half-centuries and 36 centuries so far and is also one of the only two active batters to hit 10000 runs in Test cricket. He is currently the number five-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings.

1. Joe Root (England)

Now comes the best batsman in Test cricket in the current generation, Joe Root, who has left behind all his competitors by scoring a plethora of runs in the longest format of the game. Playing in different conditions never affected Root’s style of play. Whether it’s playing in the overcast conditions, facing extra bounce from the pacers, to playing in spin-friendly asian pitches, Root has proved his talent everywhere. The right-handed batter has played 152 Test matches so far in his career and has scored 12972 runs at an average of 50.87, including 65 half-centuries and 36 centuries. He is currently the number one-ranked batter in the ICC Test rankings with 895 points.